Pocket cigar lighter



' ug- 27, 1929 E. T. PATNAUDE 1,726,237

POCKET CIGAR LIGHTER Filed Nov. 26, 1927 Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMOND T. PATNAUDE, 0F PROVIDENCE, `RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS-SIGNMENTS, T0`CLARK LIGHTER CO., INC., OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHU-SETTS, A CORPORATION`OF MARYLAND. i

POCKET CIGAR LIGHTER.

Application led November 26, 1927. Serial No. 235,811;

This invention relates in generalto im.

provements in pocket cigar lighters.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a new form ofspark wheel and means for operating the same in pocket cigar lighters.

A further object of this inventionV is the provision of a novel form ofconstruction in pocket cigar lighters in which the spark wheel ispivoted wholly or in part on the end of the flint tube. A further objectof this invention is the provision of a thumb wheel for operating thespark wheel of the pocket cigar lighter by means of a natural movementof the thumb.

These and other objects as will appear` from the following disclosureresult from this invention.

` Referring to the drawings in which the same reference numerals will beused in the several views to indicate the same or similar parts,

Figure 1 is a side view of the lighter of this invention showing themethod of holding it in the hand and the method of operating it.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the lighter.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the flint tube,spark wheel and thumb wheel.

Figure 4 is a similar cross-sectional view of a modified form, and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a still further modification notemploying the thumb wheel.

The usual forms of cigar or cigarette lighters as they are now knownemploy some form of rotatable spark wheel, and in some lighters now onthe market. the spark wheel is operated by means of a thumb wheel. Sofar as I am aware' all lighters of these types have the spark or sparkand thumb wheels mounted on a vertical axis. so as to rotate in ahorizontal plane. lVhen the lighters o are constructed in this manner.the operating movement of the thumb of the user is in a direction at anangle to the axis of rotation of the spark wheel or spark and thumbwheels or an angularity is assumed between the phalanges of the thumb.Thus greater energy is required to produce the same amount of siarks bymeans of these lighters than in t e device hereinafter set The presentlnvention involves a lighter" in which the spark wheel or the spark andthumb wheel lie in a plane in which the di- Arection of movement of theusers thumb lies.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is made to thedrawings in which at 1 is shown the usual fluid container having athreaded plug 2 adapted to be removed when the container is to befilled. On the top of the container is mounted a horizontal flint tube 3in the vertical standard 4: A spring is mounted within this tube and 1spressed by means of the threaded screw 5 to force the flint 11 againstthe spark wheel. The flint tube 3 is enlarged as at 6 1n one. form ofthe invention. The large end lies 1n a plane at an angle with thehorizontal or the top of the fluid container. The thumb wheel foroperating the spark wheel is shown at 7, and it likewise lies in a planeat an angle with the horizontal for the top of the fluid container. Onthe standard 8 (Figure 2) is pivotally mounted the snuffer arm 9, whichcooperates with the wick tube 16 for snufling out the light.

As is well known with these devices, the interior of the container isprovided with an absorbent material, such as cotton, and the wickcarries the fuel on the inside of the polptainer to the outside throughthe wick Referring to Figures 3, 4, and 5, the interior of the flinttube 3 is shown provided with the spring 10 to force the flint 11against the spark wheel 1 3. In the forms shown in Figures 3 and 4, thespark wheel is rotated by means of the thumb wheel 7. In the arrangementof Figure 3, the spark wheel and the'thumb wheel' are arranged forsimultaneous rotation about the pin 12 which is mounted in the enlargedend 6 of the flint tube and in the short standard 17 securedl to thevtop of the fluid container. In the arrangement of Figure 4, a short pin14 is rivetted in the enlarged end 6 of the fiint tube, and the sparkwheel 13 and the thumb wheel 17 and held thereon for rotation by meansof the machine screw 15. In the arrangement of Figure 5, there is nothumb wheel provided, but the spark wheel 13 is mounted for rotation onthe pin 15, in the end of the flint tube 3.

The operation of this device will be readily apparent from Figure l ofthe disclosure, where thethumb of the holder swings in an arc which liesin general in t-he plane of the thumb Wheel 7. Since this is the naturaldirection of movement of the thumb in operating one of these devices, itis apparent for a pocket lighter and a spark wheel and thumb wheel bothmounted for rotationon the end of the flint tube, the axis' of rotationof the thumb Wheel beingr at an oblique angle to the axis of the flinttube.

2. In a pocket lighter ythe combination with a fuel container and aflint tube of a spark wheel and a thumb Wheel arranged for rotationv inplanes at an oblique angle with the axis of the flint tube.

3. A combination as described for use on cigarette lighters comprising aflint tube having an enlarged end, a spark xtfheel in said enlargedhead, and a thumb wheel, said spark Wheel and thumb Wheel beingjournaled for conjoint rotation on said flint tube and in planes at anoblique angle with the axis of the Hint tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 22nd day ofNovember. A. D. 1927.

EDMOND T. PATNAUDE.l

